UK+Current+Affairs

__**Current affairs**__

__**What's been in British news recently:**__ Gordon Brown has been under fire over his support of plans to detain terror suspects for 42 days, so as to be questioned. The Scottish parliament has plans not to prosecute consenting under-16 year olds engaging under age sex. As three British Paratroopers have been killed in Afghanistan, the total death toll reaches 100. As the UN controlled Kosovo is being handed back, NATO forces have deployed British troops to keep the peace. The wife of one of the failed suicide bombers of July 21 has been convicted for witholding information from the police. The recent Foot and Mouth outbreak has been declared over by leading officials Manchester United have won the Champions League 6-5 on penalties against bitter rivals Chelsea HMS Illustrious has reached Arabian waters and is on patrol against any insurgent forces.
 * Gordon Brown criticised over 42 day detention of terror suspects**
 * Compromise on under-age sex**
 * Total of 100 British soldiers killed in Afghanistan**
 * British troops oversee UN handover of Kosovo**
 * Wife of July 21 plotter convicted**
 * Foot and Mouth outbreak over**
 * Manchester United win UEFA Champions League**
 * HMS IIlustrious patrols Arabian waters**




 * Fear Of Petrol Shortage**

Drivers are being told not to start panic buying as fears of a fuel shortage start to rise. This message however is not being helped by the fact that more than 600 fuel tankers have started a four day long strike at 6:00 am this morning.(Friday,13th, June 2008). All of the drivers involved are from the fuel giant shell, the strike was caused over disputes over pay, the drivers believe that shell can afford to pay them more because the company earns over £1.5 billion per year and it is a dangerous job.The drivers want a pay rise from £32,000 per year to £36,000 per year. In a statement from shell they said that some petrol stations are likely to run out in the foreseeable future. The talks previously have ended still in despite as settlement has bean failed to be reached.

The price of unleaded petrol is around 116.9p and diesel is 129.9p

Now (on Wednesday, 8th, June 2008) an agreement has been made stopping fears of further strikes in the foreseeable future. the strike caused 112 petrol stations to run dry but should be resupplied soon.

In England we are blessed with great human rights and a government that doesn't persecute us for our beliefs or race. As much as we may not agree with the decisions that our government makes, in the long term we are a country where people are not prejudged because of what they believe i or because of a typical stereotype. We are an extremely lucky and well developed country and sometimes we are not as grateful as we should be for all the great things that are available to us as citizens of the UK and members of the United nations and The European Convension of Human rights.